Thanks to the Ottawa International Writers Festival, I had the tremendous opportunity to meet Amanda Lindhout and hear her story in her own words. If Amanda's name does not ring familiar, let me explain who she is. She is a young Canadian woman who has published a memoir (A House in the Sky) of her experience as a hostage in Somalia for 460 days.
Let that sink in for a moment: Four-hundred and sixty days. These were not 460 days in a … [Read more...]

This easy appetizer is a new favourite of mine because it's light and doesn't leave you feeling all full before a meal.
What you'll need:
1. Bocconcini balls
2. Cherry tomatoes
3. Fresh basil
4. Toothpicks
5. Balsamic vinegar
What to do:
Cut a bocconcini ball in half and slip it on the toothpick. Follow that with a full cherry tomato and then some fresh basil. Drizzle some balsamic vinegar over the top, and if you like, … [Read more...]

If you're not familiar with "My Cosmetics Quest," it's a journey I set for myself back in November of 2012 (you can read what sparked it off here). You can also catch up by reading related posts on face cream, body lotion, makeup primer, hair colouring, and shampoos and conditioners.
Okay, let's talk lip colour.
Half the time, I forget to apply any kind of lip colour to my lips before running out the door. But really, I look much better with … [Read more...]

It is starting to become a tradition for us to host Thanksgiving dinner at our home. When it comes to prep: Hubby handles the cooking, while I handle the decor. He doesn't get stressed out at all by having people over or cooking a big meal. In fact, he loves it! So we are especially enjoying this element of having moved into a house three years ago that can handle a large dinner gathering.
One thing we didn't count on was our oven dying. … [Read more...]

I share the same birth date as Candace and was so inspired by the piece she wrote in honour of turning one year older, that I asked her if she would mind if I did the same.
Some days I feel like I know everything now that I'm 42, while other days I feel like I still know nothing. In between those extremes are the things that I now know for sure. Here they are ... … [Read more...]

The King Edward Hotel opened its doors in 1903. One hundred years later, I had my first stay here. I can't believe I hadn't stayed in this hotel before! The place is magic.
It has hosted dignitaries, celebrities, and artists the world over. From Mark Twain to Margaret Thatcher, the Beatles to Britney Spears -- this hotel has stories to tell. And I suspect many of these stories are rolling around in the Crystal Ballroom. Closed down in the late … [Read more...]

Last night my mother and I went out for Thai and then saw two fabulous bands perform live. Our birthdays are very close together and instead of gifts, we now do an evening together. It started with a bit of random luck. Now, it's a bit of a tradition.
One of the bands we saw last night was Chic Gamine. They're an a capeella group (ha! just kidding Sacha!) interesting collection of Winnipeggers and Montrealers. Hard to nail down what their … [Read more...]

Two Christmases ago, my husband gifted me with a new pair of boots. Knowing my love of the Fluevog, we visited a local store that carried some and happened upon a pair that were on sale. Tall. Bright. Yellow. Not the kind of boots that you could wear everyday, but Hubby encouraged me to get them. … [Read more...]